Paint stripper and varnish remover compositions, methods for making these compositions and methods for removing paint and other polymeric coatings from flexible and inflexible surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to non-toxic, non-flammable, safe compositions employing primarily biodegradable components for use in removing and stripping paint, varnishes and stains from hard and/or flexible surfaces. The compositions avoid the use of methylene chloride, methanol, toluol or acetone. Paint stripper compositions of the present invention have flash points above about 120° F. and an absence of low-boiling VOC's comprising: a. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound containing at least 10 carbon atoms; b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of N-methyl pyrrolidone or its equivalent; and c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant. Compositions of the present invention may further comprise at least one of the following: about 5% to about 15% by weight of a solvent extender or bulking agent, about 10% to about 60% of a high flash point, high K B (kauri-butanol) solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, glycols and glycol ethers, about 0% to about 20% water, from 0% to about 5% by weight of a thixotropic or thickening agent, and mixtures, thereof. In addition, for certain industrial applications it has surprisingly been found that the use of certain chlorofluorocarbons in an amount ranging from about 2% up to about 40% results in compositions exhibiting especially advantageous stripping efficiencies.

I claim: 
     
       1. A composition for stripping a polymeric coating from a surface consisting essentially of: a. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidines;   c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant; and   d. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a high flash point, high KB solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.   
     
     
       2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein said compound (b) is N-methylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
       4. The composition according to claim 3 further comprising about 5% to about 15% of a solvent extender or bulking agent. 
     
     
       5. The composition according to claim 4 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to claim 4 wherein said surfactant is an alkaline stable mixture of mono and di-substituted phosphate esters of decylalcoholethoxylate. 
     
     
       7. The composition according to claim 5 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester of a long-chain alcohol ethoxylate. 
     
     
       8. The composition according to claim 6 wherein said terpene is dipentene. 
     
     
       9. The composition according to claim 8 further comprising an odor-masking compound. 
     
     
       10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein said odor-masking compound is d'limonene. 
     
     
       11. The composition according to claim 4 wherein said solvent extender or bulking agent is ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
       12. The composition according to claim 1 additionally comprising between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight water. 
     
     
       13. The composition according to claim 8 wherein said composition comprises about 1% to about 5% by weight water. 
     
     
       14. The composition according to claim 12 further comprising about 0.02% to about 5% by weight of a thixotropic agent. 
     
     
       15. The composition according to claim 14 wherein said thixotropic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylcellulose, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       16. The composition according to claim 15 wherein said thixotropic agent is ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       17. The composition according to claim 16 wherein said thixotropic agent is in the form of a microgel. 
     
     
       18. The composition according to claim 1 further comprising isopropanol, water, ethyl cellulose, N-methylpyrrolidone and d'limonene and wherein said terpene is dipentene and said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       19. The composition according to claim 18 having a pH ranging from about 6.0 to about 8.0. 
     
     
       20. An impregnated applicator for us in stripping a polymeric coating from a surface comprising: 1. a paint stripping composition consisting essentially of: a. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidines;   c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant; and   d. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a high flashpoint, high K B  solvent selected from ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate; and     2. a fabric piece comprising material stable to said stripping composition, wherein said composition is absorbed to said fabric pieces.   
     
     
       21. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said fabric piece comprises non-woven, highly absorbent fabric containing an absence of chemical binders. 
     
     
       22. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose/propylene, rayon/polyester and woodpulp/polyester. 
     
     
       23. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       24. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       25. The applicator according to claim 24 further comprising about 5% to about 15% of a solvent extender or bulking agent. 
     
     
       26. The applicator according to claim 20 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       27. The applicator according to claim 25 wherein said surfactant is an alkaline stable mixture of mono and di-substituted phosphate esters of decylalcoholethoxylate. 
     
     
       28. The applicator according to claim 26 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester of a long-chain alcohol ethoxylate. 
     
     
       29. The applicator according to claim 25 wherein said terpene is dipentene. 
     
     
       30. The applicator according to claim 29 further comprising an odor-masking compound. 
     
     
       31. The applicator according to claim 30 wherein said odor-masking compound is d'limonene. 
     
     
       32. The applicator according to claim 25 wherein said solvent extender or bulking agent is ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
       33. The applicator according to claim 25 additionally comprising between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight water. 
     
     
       34. The applicator according to claim 33 wherein said composition comprises about 2% to about 5% by weight water. 
     
     
       35. The applicator according to claim 33 further comprising about 0.02% to about 5% by weight of a thxiotropic agent. 
     
     
       36. The applicator according to claim 35 wherein said thixotropic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylcellulose, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       37. The applicator according to claim 36 wherein said thixotropic agent is ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       38. The applicator according to claim 36 wherein said thixotropic agent is in the form of a microgel. 
     
     
       39. The applicator according to claim 20 having a pH ranging from about 6.0 to about 8.0. 
     
     
       40. The applicator according to claim 20 further comprising propylene carbonate, ethanol, water, ethyl cellulose, N-methylpyrrolidone and d'limonene and wherein said terpene is dipentene and said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       41. A method of making a paint stripper composition containing a microgel comprising: 1. mixing a thixotropic agent in the presence of water and a solvent extender or bulking agent to produce a microgel-containing suspension; and   2. adding said suspension to a mixture comprising: a. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidines; and   c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant.     
     
     
       42. The method according to claim 41 wherein said mixture further comprises about 10% to about 60% by weight of a high flash point, high K B  solvent selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, glycols and glycol ethers. 
     
     
       43. The method according to claim 42 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       44. The method according to claim 42 wherein said compound (b) is N-methylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
       45. The method according to claim 42 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       46. The method according to claim 45 wherein said surfactant is an alkaline stable mixture of mono- and di-substituted phosphate esters of decylalcoholethoxylate. 
     
     
       47. The method according to claim 45 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester of a long-chain alcohol ethoxylate. 
     
     
       48. The method according to claim 42 wherein said terpene is dipentene. 
     
     
       49. The method according to claim 48 wherein said mixture further comprises an odor-masking compound. 
     
     
       50. The method according to claim 49 wherein said odor-masking compound is d'limonene. 
     
     
       51. The method according to claim 42 wherein said solvent extender or bulking agent is ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
       52. The method according to claim 42 wherein the amount of water used comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight of the final composition. 
     
     
       53. The method according to claim 52 wherein the amount of water comprises about 2% to about 5% by weight of the final composition. 
     
     
       54. The method according to claim 42 wherein said thixotropic agent comprises about 0.02% to about 5% by weight of the final composition. 
     
     
       55. The method according to claim 54 wherein said thixotropic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylcellulose, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       56. The method according to claim 54 wherein said thixotropic agent is ethyl cellulose. 
     
     
       57. The method according to claim 41 wherein said final composition comprises propylene carbonate, ethanol, water, ethyl cellulose, N-methylpyrrolidone, d'limonene, dipentene and a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       58. The method according to claim 42 wherein said final composition has a pH ranging from about 6.0 to about 8.0. 
     
     
       59. A method for removing a polymeric coating from a surface comprising: 1. applying to said coating an amount of a composition effective for removing said coating, said composition consisting essentially of: a. about 10 % to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidines;   c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant; and   d. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a high flash point, high KB solvent selected from ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate;     2. contacting said composition with said coating for a period ranging from about 20 minutes to about 90 minutes; and   3. removing said composition and said polymeric coating from said surface.   
     
     
       60. The method according to claim 59 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       61. The method according to claim 59 wherein said compound (b) is N-methylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
       62. The method according to claim 59 further comprising about 5% to about 15% of a solvent extender or bulking agent. 
     
     
       63. The method according to claim 62 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       64. The method according to claim 63 wherein said terpene is dipentene. 
     
     
       65. The method according to claim 62 wherein said solvent extender or bulking agent is ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
       66. The method according to claim 62 wherein said composition further comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight water. 
     
     
       67. The method according to claim 66 further comprising about 0.02% to about 5% by weight of a thixotropic agent. 
     
     
       68. The method according to claim 67 wherein said thixotropic agent is ethyl cellulose in the form of a microgel. 
     
     
       69. The method according to claim 67 wherein said composition is removed (step 3) by spraying with water. 
     
     
       70. The method according to claim 59 wherein said composition comprises isopropanol, water, ethyl cellulose, N-methylpyrrolidone, d'limonene, dipentene and a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       71. The method according to claim 59 wherein said composition has a pH ranging from about 6.0 to about 8.0. 
     
     
       72. A method of removing a polymeric coating from a surface comprising: 1. applying to a polymeric coating an impregnated applicator comprising: a. a stripping composition consisting essentially of: i. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   ii. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidones;   iii. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant; and   iv. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a high flash point, high KB solvent selected rom the group consisting of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate; and     b. a fabric piece comprising a material stable to said stripping composition, herein said composition is absorbed to said fabric piece;     
     
     
       2. contacting said impregnated applicator to said polymeric coating for a time sufficient to remove said coating; and 3. removing said applicator from said surface.   
     
     
       73. The method according to claim 72 wherein said fabric piece comprises non-woven, highly absorbent fabric containing an absence of chemical binders. 
     
     
       74. The method according to claim 73 wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose/propylene, rayon/polyester and woodpulp/polyester. 
     
     
       75. The method according to claim 72 wherein said solvent is propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       76. The method according to claim 75 wherein said compound (ii) is N-methylpyrrolidone. 
     
     
       77. The method according to claim 72 wherein said stripping composition further comprises about 5% to about 15% of a solvent extender or bulking agent. 
     
     
       78. The method according to claim 77 wherein said surfactant is a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       79. The method according to claim 78 wherein said terpene is dipentene. 
     
     
       80. The method according to claim 77 wherein said solvent extender or bulking agent is ethanol or isopropanol. 
     
     
       81. The method according to claim 72 wherein said stripping composition further comprises between about 0.5% and about 20% by weight water. 
     
     
       82. The method according to claim 72 wherein said stripping composition further comprises about 0.02% to about 5% by weight of a thixotropic agent. 
     
     
       83. The method according to claim 72 wherein said thixotropic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylcellulose, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose in the form of a microgel. 
     
     
       84. The method according to claim 72 having a pH ranging from about 6.0 to about 8.0. 
     
     
       85. The method according to claim 72 wherein said stripping composition comprises ethanol, water, ethyl cellulose, N-methylpyrrolidone, d'limonene, dipentene and a phosphate ester surfactant. 
     
     
       86. A composition for stripping a polymeric coating from a surface consisting essentially of: a. about 10% to about 60% by weight of a terpene compound;   b. about 10% to about 50% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidones and pyrrolidines; and   c. about 2% to about 20% by weight of a terpene emulsifying surfactant.